Self-adjusting connecting rod



March 27, 192s.

15663582 H. w. BONNEY v SELF ADJUSTING CONNECTING ROD Filed Nov. .1 1926 Patented Mar. 27, 1,928.

" UNITED gs'rariss HOHER W. BONNEY,

SELF-ADJUSTING OF KINGSLEY, IOWA.

coivNEo'rING non. l

Application led November 1, 1926. Serial No. 145,611.

The object of my invention is to provide a connecting rod having a` bearingcap which is so mounted relative to the remainder of the 1 rod that it will bemaintained at all times in close contact with the shaft which thelrod bearing encircles.

More specically, it is my obj ect to provide a connecting rod having a bearing` includingan integral portion and a cap urged toward said portion by spring pressure.

A further object ofV the invention is to provide such a construction in which the cap can not be forced'back against the spring under the impact of the crank shaft during its revolution. c I

With these'and other objects in view, my invention consists Vin the construction, arrangement and combination of the various partsof my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed outV in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

l Fig. 1`is a side elevation of a connecting rod embodying my invention. k y

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, sectional `view through the adjustable bearing of the rod.'

Fig. 8 is a transverse, sectional view` taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a somewhat modified form of the invention.

j Fig. 5 is a detail, sectional view taken onr the line 5--5 of Fig. 3,

I am aware that it is not new to provide a connecting rod having an adjustable 4cap urged toward the integral portion of the bear-V ing by means of spring pressure ;l however, where'the pressure ofthe spring is allowed to act diectly against the cap in a direction longitudinally of the rod, tlieimpact of the crank shaft against the cap will be sufficient to compress the spring and thus move the cap away from the rod at-.each revolution ofthe shaft.

Were the spring to be made sufficiently heavy to withstand this impact without giving, the pressure created between the shaft and its bearing would be such as to cause an excessive amount of friction. The present invention, therefore, has its aim to provide a rod in which the cap is movable toward the integral vportion of the bearing under just suliicientspring pressure to take up any play ,that may occur in This causes knocking and such a rod, is therefore not successful.

mit the pressure of the spring to the cap in such a way that the pressure from the irnpact of the crank shaft can not be transmitted back to the spring. I

Briefiy, it may be stated that this result is accomplished by interposing a wedge 'between the spring and theL cap, tliewedge having such a pitchthat even when welly lubri- Vr cated, the co-acting cap and wedge surfaces and the co-acting wedgesurface and'surface of the frame containing the cap and wedge, will produceV suflicient friction under such pressure to preventthe wedge being driven back against the spring.'y

The invention may be embodied in several forms, each including generally a connecting rod 10 and a bearing member 11, formed integrally therewith. In one form of the invention, a frame for the movable cap 12 vis `formed by means of-a U-shaped yoke 13, the arms of which embrace the `bearingportion y 11 and are secured thereto by bolts lliand, in another form, a pair of arms 15 formed integrally with `the ybearing member 411.

-AThe connecting arm 16 of the` yoke 13 serves as armeans Vto support the wedge in contact with the movable cap l2. The wedge 17 maybe either of the double inclined face type shown in Fig. 2 and Vco-acting with an inclined face 18 on the bearing member 12 or may have only a single inclined face bearing either against the cap `12 or against the secondary wedge 19 as in'Fig. 4. Where an inclined face Vis opposed to the portion 16 of the yoke 13, the secondary wedge 19is used.

It will be seen, howeverthat` the wedge 19 ,could Vbe dispensed with l by engaging the wedge 17 directly against the arm 16 or the arm 2() of the form shown in Fig. 4.

An advantage ,in using the secondary wedge 19 lies inthe fact that it is thus possible to employ shims 21 to initially gauge the fitting of the cap 12 relative to the crank shaft. Iny thus fitting theA bearing to the crank shaft,`the wedgeg17 is securedtothat arm of the yoke 13 which is adjacent its A,wider end by means of `a screw 22 extended throughv a slot 23 inthe arm and threaded intothe wedge as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The slot 23takes care of such movement Vof the wedge longitudinally of the rod as may .be necessary to give, the correct relationiof' the parts kin fitting to the shaft.y The" edge is urgedin the dire j aan of' its 'the bearing, nieansbeing provided to tmnsvsmaller end by meansof `a pair of springs'lfi. 11o

2 gagenient with the shaft.

In fitting the connecting rod to a shaft, the bolts 11i are removed, the capy and wedge assembly, including the yoke 13, is removed, and the upper portion of the bearing placed in contact with the shaft. The cap assembly is then applied to the shaft and secured to the rod by means of the ybolts 14. Before applying the cap assembly, `the wedge 17 is drawn in the direction of its larger end b`y means of a screw 22. Tere this notdone, the springs Y24 wouldpush the wedge against theopposite arm of the yoke 13 and move the cap 12 vin the direction of the bearing Imeinberlltotsuch an extent that it would be impossible toinsert the-bolts 141.

After :the bolts lahave been inserted, the (screw 22 in'ayvthen be loosened to allow the "wedges to automatically assume the proper 'relation for maintaining the cap 12 in en- The screw is then lrenioved.

The springs-24 are Vsmall and exert very little pressure against'the wedge 17. They ,are vpreferably,-made with enough turns to Xgive considerable resiliency and sufficient range of action 'to move the wedge 17 the 'distance comprising the dierence between the length fof the wedge and the distance 'between the Aarms 13. The springs are, therefore, made considerably longer than "this distance of movement and are received 4jingopenings 26 in the wedge to a consider- "able 'depth asshown in Fig. 5. It willbe understood that the vpressure of the spring fis notv'su'flicient to force the4 wedge against the 'friction between its sides and the cap nand wedge 19 when there is any .pressure between said sides, such as,for instance, that J'Caused by 'engagement 'of the crank shaft. Thepre'ssure ofthe springs is not sufficient to drive the respective members of the bear- `ing 'against tliefshaft so as to reduce the normal oil'filin which must be present between the moving surface of shaft and bearbearii'ig members and shaft, `that it would not be sufficient to maintain the cap 12 in ,the close relationship with the sha-ft which is necessary in an efficient bearing. Ihave jfound, however, that the pounding' -towhich the'bearingis'subjected serves to release'the pressure uponthewedge at each revolution ofthe crank shaft to such an extent that ,',tlie 'feeblepressure of the spring is sufficient Vto drivethe wedge in to the position necessary ,to take up any slack that may have occurred between the bearings.

The wedges and shiins are retained against lateral movement by a cap 30 secured to the member 16 or 20, as the case may be, by means of screws 31.

The member 20, as shown in Fig. 4, is removable in order to allow the more convenient replacement of shims and wedges being yseci'ired by the hooks 32 on the ends of Vthe arms 15 and by screws 33.

'beyond the bearing member, a -fixefd `wedge mounted against said element, a movable 'cap freely received within said'loop and coacting withthe fixed bearing member, a movable wedge slidable longitudinally between the fixed wedge yand the ymbvable cap, a spring compressed between thethi'ck end of the movablewe'dge and 'one of the ari'ns,v said last mentioned arn'i'being providfefdwith ,an elongated slot extending longitudinally thereof, a screw adjustablythreaded into the thick end of theniov'able wedge and extending throughsaid slot-anda retaining cap, U-shaped in cross section, secure'dto 'said 'element and partially covering .the loop on either side ofthe larmss'o as to inlclose'ksaid wedges anda portion ofthe movable cap.

2. A Aself-adjusting connecting rod, for automobiles, comprising la rod .having -an integralbearing member, a pair Iofarms cured to said rod and extending beyond said bearing membenan element connecting said arms to form therewith alclosed loop ,proj ecting beyond vthe bearing member, A a `fixed wedge mounted against 'said elemgnt, a in'ovablecap freely received within :said yloop Yand co-acting with the fixed bearing member, a movable wedge glidable longitudinally between thei fixed wedge and the ii'iovable cap, aspringcompressed between the thick end of the movable wedge and one of the arms, a retaining cap,` U-shaped Qin cross section, secured to said element andpartially covering the loop AVon either side of the arms so as to in'closesaid wedges and aporti'on of the movable cap.

3. A self-adjusting connecting rod, for automobiles, comprising a rod rhaving an integral bearing member, a pair of arms secured to said rod and extending kbeyond said bearing member, an element connecting said arms to form therewith a closed loop lll() projecting beyond the bearing member, a fixed wedge mounted against said element, a movable cap freely received within said loop and co-acting with the fixed bearing member, a movable wedge slidable longitudinally between ithe fixed wedge and the movable cap, a spring compressed between the thick end of the movable wedge and one of the arms, a retaining cap, U-shaped in cross section, secured to said element and partially covering the loop on either side of the arms so as to inclose said wedges and a portion of the movable cap and a shim re-- ceived between the fixed wedge and said element and retained by said retaining cap.

4f. A self-adjusting connecting rod fory automobiles, comprising a rod having an integral bearing member, a pair of arms secured to said rod and extending beyond said bearing member, an element connecting said arms to form therewith a closed loop rojecting beyond the bearing member, a xed wedge mounted against said element, a movi able cap freely received within said loo and co-acting with the fixed bearing mem er, a movable wedge slidable longitudinally between the fixed wedge and the movable cap, a spring compressed between the thick end of the movable wedge and one of the arms, a retaining cap, U-shaped in cross section, secured to said element and partially covering the loop on either side of the arms so as to inclose said wedges and a portion of the movable cap, the ends of said arms being provided with inwardly extending shoulders and said element having portions rest-V ing against saidy shoulders and, screws extended through said arms and threaded into said element.

Signed this 29th day of October, 1926, at Sioux City, in the county of Woodbury and State of Iowa.

l HOMER W. BONNEY. 

